Bulgaria to See Increase in Asylum Seekers – Expert

Refugee influx to Bulgaria is expected to increase amid the crisis in Iraq, State Agency for Refugees deputy chair Vasil Varbanov told the national radio.

"From April's minimum when we received 320 asylum applications, in July we got 911, and in the first half of August – 615. The number of refugees from Syria remains the same, however there is an increase of people from Afghanistan. We have about 6000 places which comply with UN and EU minimum standards. We have boosted capacity for handling those refugees and we hope we can manage, but it all depends on the influx," Varbanov told BNR.

According to the Refugee Agency deputy chair, the refugees sent back from Western Europe, who have passed through Bulgaria, are no more than one hundred. However, there are requests for 3900 registered refugees in the country. Some 290 people have been denied status since the beginning of the year, compared to 254 people in 2013.

The number of refugees who have to leave the specialized centers, but have no place to go is 490, and the accommodation centers currently give shelter to 2216 people, Varbanov added.